Forza Horizon 6 leaks on Steam and Microsoft applies hardware bans to those who played it before launch.

O Forza Horizon 6 leaked by Steam before the official launch. Over the weekend, users of Steam They gained access to a pre-loaded version of the game without encryption, and the files quickly spread across file-sharing sites. ecosystem The company reacted to the case with severe punishments, as players who accessed the leaked build are receiving hardware bans lasting almost [number missing in original text]. 8.000 yearsThe official launch is still scheduled for 19 May 2026 No. Xbox Series X | S and on the PC.

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How the leak happened

A Playground Games would have sent to Steam A repository of files without the standard encryption applied during the pre-loading period. Users with access to the preload were able to copy and redistribute the entire content, including all the game's DLCs.

O SteamDB already lists a package of files from Forza Horizon 6 on 155,63 GB on disc and 139,53 GB compressed file containing over 5.000 entries and the executable file. forzahorizon6.exe. the own ecosystem It recommends at least 135 GB of free space on the Xbox Series X and 160 GB on PC, in addition to a mandatory SSD.

Reddit users were the first to notice the files in specialized forums. Reddit's legal team removed the posts from the subreddit. crack watchBut the content had already been shared through other means.

Some users even posted screenshots and a YouTube video showing the game running from the files they obtained.

Microsoft enforces nearly 8.000-year-old hardware ban.

the answer of ecosystem and the Playground Games It came quickly. Players who ran the leaked build are being suspended on the grounds of "cheating/unallowed modding".

The unban date in the notifications sent by the Forza Community Team is December 31, 9999, equivalent to approximately 8.000 years of suspension, or 69.895.509 hours.

It's worth highlighting the type of punishment used here, as this isn't a typical ban, like those we usually see in news stories like this. It's a... Hardware ID ban (HWID)This links the suspension to the computer's hardware, not just the account. Furthermore, reinstalling Windows does not solve the problem.

To bypass the ban, the user would need to replace the motherboard (which is most likely more expensive than the game itself) or resort to tools that mask the banned hardware. HWID, which are often distributed with malware by groups specializing in piracy.

The threads on the official subreddit of Forza Horizon The threads discussing the bans were also deleted.

It is not the first time

In March 2026, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach The PC version experienced the same problem two days before launch. The platform of Valve It made the game files available for download, probably by accident, without encryption. Although the Steam Although it corrected it quickly, it wasn't in time to prevent the 113 GB if they spread to alternative websites.

Just like in the case of Forza Horizon 6The game became playable from start to finish based on the leaked files. How? Death Stranding 2 It does not use the Denuvo protection system. DRM own of Steam It was relatively easy to circumvent. However, those who played the leaked version were left without Russian language support and without access to online features.

It is unclear why the two games reached the Steam without adequate protection during pre-charging.

When will Forza Horizon 6 officially launch?

For those who prefer to wait, the game premieres on 19 May 2026 for Xbox and PC, via Microsoft Store e SteamOwners of the Premium edition have early access starting from May 15, and the game will be available on Game Pass Ultimate and PC GamePass since launch day. One version for PS5 is scheduled for the second half of 2026.

The game promises the largest map in the franchise, with over... 550 cars The launch features Japanese-themed settings, with a focus on the streets of Tokyo.

Na SteamThe game is now available for pre-order for 299 BRL in the base version of the game, or by 449 BRL in the version Deluxe, and 549 BRL in the edition Premium, which also has early access to the game 4 days before the official launch.

Requirements for Forza Horizon 6 on PC

If you want to play Forza Horizon 6 on PCBelow are the official requirements released by Microsoft. Keep in mind that the published requirements aren't always very precise, but the game seems to be relatively well optimized on PC, judging by what we know so far.

In all configurations, Microsoft recommends Windows 10 or 11 build 22H2, or later.

See also:

Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 11 / 05 / 2026.

With information: The Verge | Videocardz | Insiders Gaming | Wccftech.